Eurovision Song Contest 2023: How to buy tickets, when do they go on sale and what time is it on TV? Vital Q&A as BBC reveals its line-up of presenters
- Here is everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023
- It’s coming to Liverpool this year due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war
Eurovision will be hosted in Britain for the first time in 25 years on May 13 as it throws the biggest international singing contest in the world on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine.
Here is everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – including how to buy tickets, when do they go on sale and what time it is on TV – as the BBC unveil the team hosting the show this year.
Presenting the Grand Final on May 13 to a global audience of 160 million will be Eurovision legend Graham Norton – who will be providing his usual hilarious commentary.
Alongside the funnyman, Ukrainian singer and frontwoman of The HARDKISS alternative band Julia Sanina will co-host with Alesha Dixon and Emmy Award-winning actress Hannah Waddingham.
There are 37 countries participating in Eurovision 2023, but only 26 make it through to the Grand Final.
As per previous years, you should be able to tune in to the Grand Final of Eurovision 2023 on BBC One.
Eurovision 2023: How to get tickets, when was it last held in the UK, who won the 2022 contest? – as the BBC reveal new presenting line-up (Pictured, 2022’s runner up, Sam Ryder)
Eurovision hosts were revealed on Wednesday: (L-R) Sam Quek, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Julia Sanina, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon, Scott Mills, Rylan and Timur Miroshnychenko
Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will be the Eurovision Correspondent in Liverpool, Sam Quek, will front the Opening Ceremony live stream on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube Channel and Mel Giedroyc, Scott Mills, Rylan and Claire Sweeney will also have roles.
Ukraine won the right to host the glitzy pan-continental music competition when its entry, from the folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won this year’s contest in May as Britain’s Sam Ryder was second.
However the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – which runs Eurovision – said it had concluded that ‘regrettably, next year’s event could not be held in Ukraine for safety and security reasons’.
Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the so-called big five nations – the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.
Ahead of the announcement about the host city shortlist here is everything you need to know about Eurovision 2023:
The Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, Merseyside, is illuminated as the Eurovision Song Contest wass officially passed to the city following a ceremony where the Eurovision Insignia was handed over from the previous host city
Are tickets on sale yet?
Not quite yet… but they will be very soon.
But to be the first to know when tickets do go on sale, you need to sign up to the official Eurovision Song Contest newsletter and subscribe to its social media channels.
Along with Along with Eurovision.tv, these will be the first places announcements will be made.
So, how do I get Eurovision tickets?
Tickets will release on 7 March 2023 at 12pm (midday) GMT.
They will be available through Ticketmaster.
And to make sure that you’re really in with the chance of securing tickets, the BBC is encouraging users to create a UK Ticketmaster account ahead of the ticket drop.
There will be nine shows that people can watch, as well as the Jury shows (which will take place the day before each live event).
The Jury and family shows are likely to be in less demand, and may have cheaper tickets available.
Obviously, the Grand Final will be the most expensive, and the most popular out of them all.
You’ll only be able to buy tickets for one show at a time.
If you opt for a televised event, you can buy a maximum of four tickets. For preview events, you’ll be able to get six tickets.
Second place: The BBC had agreed to broadcast the show on behalf of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC. Britain’s Sam Ryder pictured earlier this year
How much will tickets cost?
TechAdvisor reports that the prices for tickets will be as follows:
Semi-Final shows: £30 to £290
Grand Final shows: £80 to £380
Meanwhile, Eurovision World suggests that, while historically the most expensive Eurovision tickets have been for the Grand Final live show, prices have varied over the years.
According to the site, prices for the 2019 competition were priced from €183 to €415.
2018’s prices ranged from €5 to €299.
When is Eurovision 2023?
The first Semi-Final will take place on Tuesday May 9.
The second Semi-Final will be on Thursday May 11.
And the Grand Final will be on Saturday May 13.
How will I be able to vote?
As in previous years, the easiest way to vote for your favourite act in the Eurovision Song Contest was by downloading the app onto your smartphone or tablet, which is available from Google Play the iOS App Store and the Windows Store.
Once you’ve got the app, you’ll be able to find out more about the participants and all the latest Eurovision news.
But more importantly, when the time comes, you will be able to cast your vote using the app simply by clicking on the vote button.
Where will the Eurovision contest be hosted?
Battling it out: Liverpool, (pictured), was selected over Glasgow to host the ceremony
Back in October, Graham Norton appeared on The One Show and announced: ‘The city that will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 is… Liverpool.’
Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the annual event, decided the show cannot be safely held in the country following Russia’s invasion.
The group said in a statement: ‘We are very pleased that next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool. Though we haven’t had the privilege of visiting yet, the musical heritage of the city is known all over the world.
‘Playing in the same place that The Beatles started out will be a moment we’ll never forget!
‘Although we are sad that next year’s competition cannot take place in our homeland, we know that the people of Liverpool will be warm hosts and the organisers will be able to add a real Ukrainian flavour to Eurovision 2023 in this city.’
It will be the ninth time Eurovision has taken place in the UK – more than any other country.
The EBU’s statement added: ‘The BBC has staged the Eurovision Song Contest more times than any other broadcaster, hosting in London in 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977, Edinburgh in 1972, Brighton in 1974, Harrogate in 1982 and Birmingham in 1998.’
Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC said: ‘It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.
Legacy: It will be the ninth time Eurovision has taken place in the UK – more than any other country. Pictured: ABBA at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, 1974
‘Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege.
‘The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.
‘The BBC will now begin the process to find a Host City to partner with us on delivering one of the most exciting events to come to the UK in 2023.’
When Eurovision last held in the UK?
The UK last hosted Eurovision in May 1998.
Birmingham was selected as the host city with the event being held at the National Indoor Arena.
And how many times have the UK won Eurovision?
To date, the UK has won the Eurovision Song Contest on 5 occasions and hosted the event on 8 previous occasions: 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977 in London, 1972 in Edinburgh, 1974 in Brighton, 1982 in Harrogate, and 1998 in Birmingham.
The first win was in 1967, with Sandie Shaw’s hit Puppet on a String and the last was 30 years later in 1997.
The most memorable win was Bucks Fizz, who wowed audiences with their hit, Making Your Mind Up, which featured a skirt-ripping dance routine, complete with big hair and 80’s attire.
The UK last won Eurovision in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves.
Who won the last Eurovision?
This year’s competition was won by Ukraine’s folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra with their song Stefania.
The country joined the contest in 2003 and its three wins make it one of the most successful of the newer competitor countries – having triumphed in 2004 and 2016.
During their performance, which combined rap and Ukrainian folklore, the group were dressed in elaborate outfits, including long multi-coloured fringed ensembles.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post: ‘Our courage impresses the world our music conquers Europe! Next year Ukraine will host Eurovision! For the third time in its history. And I believe – not for the last time.’
Friends: Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC said: ‘It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest’
More about Eurovision:
Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision has grown to include more than 40 countries, including non-European nations such as Israel and Australia.
Organizers strive to keep pop and politics apart – banning overtly political symbols and lyrics – but global tensions have often imposed themselves on the contest.
Russia was kicked out of this year’s competition because of its invasion of Ukraine in February.
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